I hold this Dermatologist-approved cleanser responsible for my baby soft skin

Obsessed doesn't even cover it

Decree Deep Cleanse on pink background

Obsessed doesn't even cover it

I love cleansing my skin. It's all part of my end-of-the-day ritual. I am a devout double cleanser and live for that feeling of removing the day from my face.

So, I am forever in search of the best cleanser. I have found some crackers in my time - CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm (of course) are firm favourites.

The beauty of cleansers is that each one holds a different power. I like to have a thorough, high-achieving wardrobe of cleansers on my bathroom shelf that I can rely on for my skin's every need.

At the moment, the cleanser that I turn to the most often is Decree Deep Cleanse.

Decree Deep Cleanse, £55 | Cult Beauty

Decree Deep Cleanse, £55 | Cult Beauty
Decree's Deep Cleanse knocked my socks off from the very first time I used it. Designed to be used in the evening, it's a powerful detoxifying formula that combines declogging clays and exfoliating acids, like salicylic and lactic acids. This combination leaves my skin clean, smooth and incredibly soft.

Decree is the brain-child of Dr Anita Sturnham - Medical Director of skincare clinic Nuriss. She wanted to create an uncomplicated and results-driven skincare line and that's exactly what's she has achieved. On each product, it tells you whether it should be used in the morning or the evening, every day or weekly and there are detailed explanations of what the product does on the back.

I use this cleanser daily, always in the evening, and after I've removed the majority of my make-up with micellar water. I apply it to dry skin, work it into the skin (avoiding the eye area, because of its punchy ingredients) focusing particularly on areas where my pores are particularly clogged and I'm prone to breakouts. I then add water gradually, which turns it into a milk. After removing it with a muslin and then drying my face, I find it incredibly tricky to stop myself from stroking my face. No other cleanser has ever left my skin feeling as good as this. I am so glad that I found it.

Some of my other favourite cleansers

£9.49 | Amazon

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser - £9.49 | Amazon
I am forever recommending this affordable skincare brand and this cleanser in particular. It's seriously gentle on the skin and can be used in the morning to refresh or in the evening to remove the last specks of make-up and grime from the skin.

-was £44, now £32.93 | Lookfantastic

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm - was £44, now £32.93 | Lookfantastic
If you've not tried (or even heard of) this bestselling cleanser, then we really must rectify that immediately. As it's on sale, now is the perfect time. A long time ago I was nervous about using cleansing balms, they seemed to me to be too oily, but this little beauty changed my mind. It melts make-up away and dissolves dirt.

So go forth and clean your skin well my friends.

Katie Thomas

Katie Thomas is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire UK. With over 10 years of experience on women's luxury lifestyle titles, she covers everything from the best beauty looks from the red carpet and stand out trends from the catwalk, to colonic irrigation and to the best mascaras on the market. She started her career on fashion desks across the industry - from The Telegraph to Brides - but found her calling in the Tatler beauty department. From there she moved to Instyle, before joining the Marie Claire digital team in 2018. She’s made it her own personal mission to find the best concealer in the world to cover her tenacious dark circles. She’s obsessed with skincare that makes her skin bouncy and glowy, low-maintenance hair that doesn’t require brushing and a cracking good manicure. Oh and she wears more jewellery than the Queen.